User-submitted Reference

Bekkali or Bakkali is a family name relatively common in the Western part of the Arab world and other Mediterranean countries including Cyprus, Greece and Turkey.

In Morocco, the Bakkali lineage started over a 1,000 years ago, when under a relentless persecution Sidi Yakhlef ben Hamza ben Idriss II changed his name to Sidi Yakhlef el Bakkal, and moved from Fes to the Rif mountains, where the Berber tribes welcomed him.

The Bakkali family is renowned for its spirituality, orientation towards sciences, academia, and freedom-fighting.

Initially the Bakkali descendents spread across the Rif mountains, especially the Hraik and Temsaman regions (where they were qualified as 'Morabitin' (the resisting ones) due to their involvement in anti-occupation fights). They then expanded westwards, initially to free Tangier from the English occupation and to protect Asilah, Larache and Ksar el Kebir from falling to the occupiers.

The Bakkalis have been and still are a well respected family all over Morocco, especially the north-western region including Tangier, Tetouan, Chaouen, Ouazzane, Asilah, Larache and Ksar el Kebir.

They played a crucial role during all the independence clashes with the occupation and earned a reputation of having the power of 'Baraka' (blessing).

They were always unequivocally loyal to the Moroccan Monarchy (they played a crucial role in the various independence wars across north-western Morocco). Indeed, there are various centuries-old Royal Decrees granting them the 'noble' status (Chorafa). Such 'Chorafa' status is due to their descent from the family of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through Hassan ibn Ali and Fatima.

In addition to them having a clear orientation towards spiritual, academic and freedom-fighting matters, their good reputation is perhaps enhanced by the perception that they are one of the few influential Moroccan families that didn´t get rich through links to power. For instance, under the Sultan Mohammed V (God Bless His Soul), the 'Chiekh' (governor) of Ksar el Kebir was a Bakkali (Known as Chiekh Allal —GBHS) yet his descendents are not among the rich of the city. More importantly, Tangier would not be the same without a Bakkali (known as Sidi Bouarrakia—GBHS), whereas the Bakkalis of Tangier are far from being among the wealthy population of the city.

Members of the Bakkali family feel strongly about their ascendance and have a huge sense of responsibility towards preserving their family´s characteristics and particularities. They also maintain strong ties between each other. In fact, there is a Bakkali NGO in Tangier and, once a year, the Bakkalis get together in Northern Morocco to pay tribute to their grandfather.